September 26, Noon

The Emerging Scholars Network is launching a new occasional online event series called ESN Conversations. For the first event, Andy Le Peau distills 40 years of editing experience into one conversation. Join us to learn great tips for academic writing from the emeritus associate publisher for editorial at InterVarsity Press, including how to overcome writer’s block.

We are hosting a watch group at Arps Hall in room 239. Come join us. RSVP to Paul Post.

If you can’t attend but want to watch online – RSVP to bob.trube[at]intervarsity.org to receive a conference call link for this event.

Bob Trube reviewed Andy Le Peau’s related book, Write Better, on his blog.

There is not a recording available for this event but the Emerging Scholars Blog has a posting providing highlights and links to related materials.

The final Lunch with a Higher Purpose for this academic year with Dr. Francis Su was co-sponsored by the Society of Christian Scholars on Thursday, April 4, 2019 at Noon (EST).

Dr. Su is uniquely qualified to address our topic, Living out Academic Calling while Serving God on Campus. Dr. Su will address the tensions and triumphs of a life of faith and define the meaning of success for the professor called by God to the academic life.

Brief Bio

Francis Edward Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, and past president of the Mathematical Association of America. He received his B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. His research is in geometric combinatorics and applications to the social sciences and he has co-authored numerous papers with undergraduates.

The Wednesday morning book group called the Dead Theologians Society will be reading Eugene Peterson’s Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places. This is the first title in his spiritual theology series. “The single most important thing to understand in spiritual theology is that it is not about theology… it is a cultivated disposition to live theology.” Peterson’s great skills as a pastor an d as a writer combine to lead us to more deeply live our faith.

We meet at the Panera on Lane Avenue across from St. Johns’s Arena starting at 7:45 AM. We read roughly 30 pages a week for the weekly discussion. On January 16 Paul will provide a background on Eugene Peterson’s life and Bill will have a list of weekly readings. If you have questions contact Paul Post.

Come join us!

The Christian Graduate Student Alliance and the Fellowship of Christian Faculty and Staff  are presenting the Annual Christmas Carol Sing on Monday, December 10 at noon in the Ohio Staters, Inc. Founders Room on the second floor of the Ohio Union. We will gather for a time of fellowship and optional lunch (can be purchased on your own beforehand at the Union Market downstairs). The sing along with musicians from CGSA will start at 12:30pm.

Carol Sing RSVP

Welcome to The Lamp Post—a newsletter from InterVarsity’s Faculty Ministry. In November 2016, we relit what we believe is an important resource for faculty, trusting it will engage, inform, and encourage you.

As the name implies, The Lamp Post is about bringing light, helping us to grow in our understanding of God in the face of Christ (II Cor. 4:5-9). May you find encouragement from the articles linked below. Each issue features pieces we recommend from Graduate & Faculty Ministries, The Well, and the Emerging Scholars Network related to spiritual formation, integration of faith and work, and other relevant resources.

Please consider subscribing to The Lamp Post so that you will receive future editions of the Faculty Newsletter delivered directly to your Inbox.

I am grateful for your service to God on campus.

Sincerely,
Debra Block Clark
Interim Faculty Ministry Director

Link to past articles from The Lamp Post.

This book is available as gift for new faculty and for anyone who requests the book before October 31, while supplies last.

Contact Howard VanCleave to receive a copy.

From the cover

What has Christianity ever done for us? What value is there in seeking to preserve its influence today? In this book, Jonathan Hill answers these questions with some questions of his own. For instance, why do we seal wine bottles with cork? Where did musical notation come from? How did universities get their start? And why was the world’s first fully literate society not in Europe, Asia or North America? As Hill tells the story of the centuries-long entanglement between Christianity and Western culture, he shows the profound influence that Christianity has had–from what we drink to how we speak, from how we write to how we mark the seasons. Employing a rich, narrative style packed with events and people and illustrated throughout in full color, he describes the place of Christianity both in history and in the present day. What Has Christianity Ever Done for Us? is an enlightening and often humorous tour of culture and thought, the arts, the landscape, education, society, spirituality and ethics, and social justice. Here is a rich, entertaining and informative read.

Goodreads reviews

April 12, 2018 – Science, Religion, and Democracy

Presented by The Religion COMPAS Program and the Christian Graduate Student Alliance

3:30pm – 5:00pm
Thompson Library, 11th Floor

“What is religious belief, and what is its proper relationship to scientific inquiry?

Do science and religion represent incommensurable worldviews? If so, then how can people relate to one another as fellow citizens across that divide? If not, then how can we pursue a more constructive dialogue between religious and non-religious people? Should secularism be the “default” position in public debate about scientific issues?”

Speakers:

• Philip Kitcher (John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University)
• David C. Lahti (Associate Professor of Biology, Director of the Master’s Program in Biology at Queens College, City University of New York)

There is also a breakfast seminar from 9 – 10:30am in Thompson Room 202.

Flyer

Dallas Willard wrote:

Today is often spoken of as the age of information. Information is vital to all we do, of course, but then it always has been. What distinguishes the present time is that there is a lot more information (and misinformation) available than ever before, and a lot of people are trying to sell it to us.

What happens to Jesus in the crush of the information pushers? Unfortunately he is usually pushed aside. Many Christians do not even think of him as one with reliable information about their lives. Consequently they do not become his students. What does he have to teach them? It is very common to find Christians who work hard to master a profession and succeed very well in human estimation, while the content of their studies contains no reference at all to Jesus or his teaching. How could this be?

A short while ago I led a faculty retreat for one of the better Christian colleges in the United States. In opening my presentation I told the group that the important question to consider was what Jesus himself would say to them if he were the speaker at their retreat. I indicated my conviction that he would ask them this simple question: Why don’t you respect me in your various fields of study and expertise? Why don’t you recognize me as master of research and knowledge in your fields?

Read the rest of his article here.